The Band Association of New South Wales (BANSW) is celebrating a significant milestone – 130 years of making music.
This weekend The Joan in Penrith will host the NSW State Band Championships, with a record 78 brass and concert bands performing.
President of Band Association NSW, Jeff Markham, is excited to celebrate this milestone and recognises the need to celebrate the banding community.
“The longevity of the organisation and the event demonstrate the absolute need within our community for banding and community making music,” Markham said.
“There’s a need to come together and make great music and celebrate a community, it’s a fantastic thing.”
Now in its 130th year, the Championships remain the largest State Band Championships in Australia, bringing thousands of musicians, volunteers, families and music lovers to Penrith.
“Over the event there will be about 4,000 musicians come though the venue, plus family, friends and supporters,” Markham said.
“They come from all across the Sydney region, down from the Hunter, up from the South Coast, in from Canberra and down from places like Port Macquarie and Orange.”
Markham said bands are more than just making music, they’re safe places where individuals come together and share a sense of vulnerability.
“Essentially, you’re sitting there with strangers who you very quickly open your heart and soul to in order to be part of, share and play in something that’s far greater than what you could ever do yourself. They are places of equality, it doesn’t matter your social status, your education or ability, everybody in a band is treated with the same respect,” Markham said.
Over the weekend, youth (U19) and open age events will perform in the State Championships, open to community and school bands, both brass and concert. With a record-breaking field of 78 bands competing, Markham is hopeful the annual event will keep banding alive in young kids and reignite the passion in those to pick up the instrument again.
“It’s an opportunity for them to be able to do what they do and continue to do it for the rest of their lives,” Markham said.
“Because once you know how to make music, you always know how, it’s in your blood, and it’s just a matter of finding it again.”
The event is run largely by volunteers and BANSW has spent 130 years helping bands across the state perform, grow and connect.
To witness the talent the State Championships have to offer, find tickets at www.thejoan.com.au/whats-on/nsw-band-championships-130th-anniversary or stream the two-day event here: www.brassbanned.com.
